image of the day
grrlscientist | February 25, 2009tags: Scots Pine Tree, Pinus sylvestris, tree bark, Seurasaari, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
Tree Bark -- Can you identify the species?
Bark of the Scots Pine, Pinus sylvestris.
Seurasaari, western Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 February 2009. [larger view].
Review all tree bark images.
grrlscientist | February 24, 2009tags: skiing, Saunalahti, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
Walking on Water.
These crazy people are skiing on the frozen saltwater bay, Saunalahti, western Helsinki, Finland [map].
Image: Bob O'Hara, 22 February 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | February 23, 2009tags: Eteläinen Pukkisaari, Saunalahti, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
Eteläinen Pukkisaari.
This is a very small rock island as photographed from the larger
island, Läntinen Pukkisaari, in western Helsinki, Finland. The tiny
black specs on the white background are people who are walking
on the frozen saltwater bay, Saunalahti [map].
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 February 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | February 22, 2009tags: Seurasaari, nature, Helsinki, Finland, image of the day
Seurasaaresse ("On Society Island" -- Western Helsinki, Finland).
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 February 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | February 21, 2009tags: Hietaniemi Hautausmaa, Hietaniemi Cemetery, nature, Helsinki, Finland, image of the day
Orthodox portion of Hietaniemi Hautausmaa (Hietaniemi Cemetery).
Image: GrrlScientist, 19 February 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | February 20, 2009tags: lichen, fungi, nature, Helsinki, Finland, image of the day
Rock with lichens, Kumpula, Helsinki.
Image: GrrlScientist, 19 February 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | February 19, 2009tags: fruiting bodies, fungi, nature, image of the day
Lichen Fruiting Bodies.
Image: Biosparite, 2009 [larger view].
Is this the sporocarp of a basidiomycete or an ascomycete?
The photographer writes;
I photographed these at the Katy Prairie Conservancy Field Office, about 40 miles west of Houston, where the air is clean enough to permit luxuriant growth of lichens. The photo was taken in late afternoon in October 2007.
grrlscientist | February 18, 2009tags: lichens, symbiosis, nature, image of the day
Lichens.
Image: Biosparite, 2009 [larger view].
Lichens are a symbiotic association between a fungus (the mycobiont) with a photosynthetic partner (the photobiont or phycobiont), usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium. The morphology, physiology and biochemistry of lichens are very different to that of the isolated fungus and alga in culture. Lichens occur in some of the most extreme environments on Earth -- arctic tundra, hot deserts, rain forests, rocky coasts and toxic slag heaps. Lichens are widespread and long-lived; however,…
grrlscientist | February 17, 2009tags: Central Park Wildlife, New York City, Bob Levy, image of the day
Northern Cardinal Gets His Turn In The Spotlight
Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George [larger view].
The photographer writes;
A shaft of sunlight fortuitously fell on this male Northern Cardinal at just the right moment. I regularly visit a set of cardinal families. I wish I knew which of the Central Park clans this fella was from but I don't. It does not take away from the enjoyment of this image, does it?
grrlscientist | February 15, 2009tags: NYC, New York City, Bob Levy, image of the day
In the Spotlight
Central Park Grey Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George [larger view].
The photographer writes;
The sunlight fortuitously fell on this Gray Squirrel as it chomped through a peanut shell on a fair winter's day. I confess I did not give that peanut to the squirrel nor have I given them to any other squirrels. Oh, there was a time when I might have. When I started birding it was not unusual for me to give them an occasional snack but that all changed when these animal got a little too bold…
grrlscientist | February 13, 2009tags: Spring Seep Mimulus, Mimulus guttatus, Biosparite, image of the day
Spring Seep Mimulus, Mimulus guttatus, photographed near near Kernville, California.
Image: Biosparite, June 2008 [larger view].
grrlscientist | February 12, 2009tags: NYC, New York City, Bob Levy, image of the day
Reflection On Frozen Central Park Lake: 01.17.09, 4:19 PM
This image is of the New York City skyline reflected on the ice at Central Park Lake. I was looking south from Bank Rock Bay at the northern end of the lake. The original shot was darker. I adjusted the brightness to achieve this effect.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George [larger view].
grrlscientist | February 9, 2009tags: Satomi's pygmy seahorse, Indonesian wildlife, Stephen Wong, Takako Uno, image of the day
Satomi's pygmy seahorse, endemic to Indonesia, is one of the world's tiniest seahorses. Two adults would fit head-to-head across the face of a penny and their offspring are each about the size of a 12-point apostrophe.
Image: Stephen Wong and Takako Uno/National Geographic.
At under half an inch tall (13 millimeters), Satomi's pygmy seahorse -- named after dive guide Satomi Onishi -- is a strong contender for the world's smallest seahorse. With their tails stretched out straight, two Satomi's…
grrlscientist | February 4, 2009tags: Golden Rays, cow nosed rays, Rhinoptera steindachneri, Sandra Critelli, image of the day
Golden (cow nosed) Rays, Rhinoptera steindachneri, gathering off the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, near the coast of Mexico. This spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one of their biannual mass migrations to more agreeable waters.
Image: Sandra Critelli [larger view].
Looking like giant leaves floating in the sea, thousands of Golden Ray s are seen here gathering off the coast of Mexico. The spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one…
grrlscientist | February 3, 2009tags: Golden Rays, cow nosed rays, Rhinoptera steindachneri, Sandra Critelli, image of the day
Golden (cow nosed) Rays, Rhinoptera steindachneri, gathering off the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, near the coast of Mexico. This spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one of their biannual mass migrations to more agreeable waters.
Image: Sandra Critelli [larger view].
Looking like giant leaves floating in the sea, thousands of Golden Ray s are seen here gathering off the coast of Mexico. The spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one…
grrlscientist | February 2, 2009tags: Masked Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus ridgwayi, Joel Sartore, National Geographic, image of the day
Masked Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi)
700 (Nearly extinct in the wild, some 700 captive).
Image: Joel Sartore/National Geographic [larger view].
Joel Sartore has shared some of his work on this blog before, so I am thrilled to tell you that National Geographic also appreciates his exemplary work. You can view more endangered animals of the United States that were photographed by the talented Joel Sartore here at National Geographic online. All images appear here by permission…
grrlscientist | February 1, 2009tags: Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis, Joel Sartore, National Geographic, image of the day
Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis)
Estimated 12,210 breeding birds.
Image: Joel Sartore/National Geographic [larger view].
Joel Sartore has shared some of his work on this blog before, so I am thrilled to tell you that National Geographic also appreciates his exemplary work. You can view more endangered animals of the United States that were photographed by the talented Joel Sartore here at National Geographic online. All images appear here by permission of National Geographic…
grrlscientist | January 31, 2009tags: Hawaiian Goose, Nene, Branta sandvicensis, Joel Sartore, National Geographic, image of the day
Hawaiian Goose or Nene (Branta sandvicensis)
2,100 (Estimated 2,000 wild and 100 captive).
Image: Joel Sartore/National Geographic [larger view].
Joel Sartore has shared some of his work on this blog before, so I am thrilled to tell you that National Geographic also appreciates his exemplary work. You can view more endangered animals of the United States that were photographed by the talented Joel Sartore here at National Geographic online. All images appear here by permission of National…
grrlscientist | January 30, 2009tags: St. Andrew Beach Mouse, Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis, Joel Sartore, National Geographic, image of the day
St. Andrew Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)
6,000 (Estimates range from 3,500 to 6,000).
Image: Joel Sartore/National Geographic [larger view].
Joel Sartore has shared some of his work on this blog before, so I am thrilled to tell you that National Geographic also appreciates his exemplary work. You can view more endangered animals of the United States that were photographed by the talented Joel Sartore here at National Geographic online. All images appear…
grrlscientist | January 29, 2009tags: Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Caretta caretta, Joel Sartore, National Geographic, image of the day
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
90,000 remaining.
Image: Joel Sartore/National Geographic [larger view].
The photographer writes:
Biologists tally nests, not individuals. Some 47,000 to 90,000 nests were counted each year on the Atlantic Coast over the past decade.
Joel Sartore has shared some of his work on this blog before, so I am thrilled to tell you that National Geographic also appreciates his exemplary work. You can view more endangered animals of the United States that were…